Transplant is known for its heart wrenching and emotionally-captivating storylines. The last three episodes of the season, inevitably, were to deliver no less. Our York Memorial Team is in for a swift change with opportunities and closure on the horizon.
With notable guest stars like Sergio Di Zio, who played the beloved Spike on Flashpoint — another Toronto drama series — and phenomenal twists, the show closes out the season on a cinematic high. Let’s break down the final three episodes of the season, focusing on the characters and their relationships:
BASH
Bash is a hero in more ways than one. We’ve seen him care for others and put their well-being above his own. He advises patients that are permanent caretakers to ensure that they have an outlet for themselves, and he takes it upon himself to save those who are hostile to him.
He will even go as far as to save Bishop from the lawsuit by stepping down. Despite having a younger sister to provide for, he would ensure that his mistakes do not hurt others. Although, it was nice to see Bishop saving Bash because Bishop knows that Bash would sacrifice anything for anyone.
We’ve also seen the way Bash’s PTSD has aligned with the stories told each week. Little bits of Bash’s sacrifice and heroism to save those captives with him are shown, but eventually, Bash is driven out to the middle of nowhere and let go. Bash feels responsible for others’ well-being because he has survivor’s guilt.
He is stuck in time because he can’t move forward until those stuck with him do, too. Fortunately, Bash realizes that while he has a long road of work ahead of him, he also can’t keep living in the past. Bash needs to fight for what he wants, and we see him embrace this opportunity in the season finale.
THEO
Theo hasn’t had the best luck this season. He’s been struggling with an impossible commute, a family in a different city, and an unfortunate divorce. It feels as if he is lost. Luckily his dad, his patients, and some new opportunities get him on a new track. After all, transport medicine and air-lifts are beneficial.
Theo’s father gives him some well-earned advice about how it’s time that he forgives himself for wanting the life he chose. It may have had severe consequences and built-up anger, but push came to shove, and Theo chose a life of helping others.
Theo helps his patients, no matter how often they remind him of his circumstances. Whether it’s anger or pain, Theo is focused on helping. In the season finale, we see Theo transporting a kid who desperately needs medical attention when the plane goes down.
While Theo has been metaphorically lost in this season, the resulting cliffhanger in the season finale shows Theo physically lost, in the middle of a forest, with no transmission, injured and with a patient in need of dire care. So, I guess we’ll see where Theo will be in Season 3.
JUNE
June has always been the hardest working member at York Memorial. Becoming Chief Resident was no easy feat, especially with all the landmines marring the way. Yet, despite everything thrown her way, she has managed to persevere. Also, June has managed to handle the pain that her personal life brings better than most.
June has never shied away from being honest. In the final episodes of the season, we see her embrace the new emergency OR and butt heads with her mentor. June forces Bishop and Dr. Singh to stop pulling her into their funding feud. After all, she is a brilliant doctor and can manage herself.
She wants to be a doctor and get as much experience as possible while managing her residents. June also lets Dr. Singh know when he becomes a little too hostile regarding her mishap with Dr. Roche. She needs him as a mentor, and she will push until they resolve their matters.
Meanwhile, June is dealing with her father’s loss and does something surprising in her personal life. When she learns she has a sibling who is struggling, after her father promised she would be taken care of, June steps up. She lets the girl live with her and even helps her out. This is after not wanting anything to do with her.
June has let people in her life and has pushed her boundaries this season. Of course, the landmines and the politics may never cease, but June is working hard to make sure that her work life stays balanced and her home life becomes a warm place for her to retreat.
MAGS
Magalie Leblanc is everything. Since mid-season, we have seen her struggle with the after-effects of her assault. In the final episodes, Mags takes change and chances into her own hands.
She has been waiting for Bishop to give her the approval on Cardiology, but all she needed was to say yes to herself. I mean, it’s excellent that Bishop also approves, but she only needed herself. Mags allows Claire and June to help her as she attends to a male patient and chooses the strength of leaning on others.
After all, a support system is one the bravest things we can have. Mags uses her support system to push through, see her patients, and even fight those who bother her. Like Bash, she is going for what she wants. While she may not be living in the past, she knows she has a better future waiting.
Let’s hope that Mags continues to lean on her support system, fight for what she wants, and allow herself some help to process the trauma she has been through.
BISHOP
Jed Bishop has given everything to this hospital, including his job. He helps his residents and attendings get the experience they need and assists them in a semi non-hands approach. He knows, though, that it’s time to go.
He gives a heartwrenching farewell to all of those he has spent his time with and even gets to share some funny stories to close the deal. He also manages to nab something from the hospital. But the best part is he makes sure that Mags goes to Cardiology, Bash has a future, and June pushes forward.
He takes the hit for the lawsuit case because it makes the most sense. They pushed him out; he was no longer hands-on and could still teach. His career won’t be finished just because he can no longer practice. He can teach, and so, that’s what he does.
While saving Bash was noble, we will undoubtedly miss seeing Dr. Jed Bishop on our screen, and we hope we will eventually see him again.
CLAIRE
Claire’s arc is probably my favourite arc of the season. Claire fights for everything she wants this season and doesn’t sweat the details. She fights to become a nurse practitioner and works for the respect she deserves. Claire also supports her nursing team and holds their space sacred.
Unfortunately, she and Jed can’t seem to work it out. Claire wanted to do her clinical hours at another hospital, where she could be on her own two feet and start fresh, but Jed persuaded her to stay. While she hopes it will be just as good, she starts to feel the lines blur, and she can no longer be with him.
While their relationship doesn’t work out, their friendship is steadfast. Despite their breakup before the season finale, they harbour no ill will for each other and focus on their careers. After all, Claire’s storyline was about more than just Jed. It was about the respect that nurses deserve and the suffering they go through.
ATWATER
While Dr. Atwater truly is one of the best attendings we’ve seen on the show, she deserves more. For this reason, she calls it. Wendy has waited to be named the Chief, which, unfortunately, does not happen. Wendy realizes that Bishop has kept her where he needs her and where he can rely on her, but it’s a position that holds her back.
She has given her all to this department, including some wise advice to June. So, in Transplant 2×11 “Locked,” Wendy makes her grievances known and exits the hospital. She can do what she wants now and ensures her worth is valued. However, she doesn’t leave without speaking to June and wishing her well.
THE SPAWN OF SATAN
Yes, he is stepping in. Yes, he will be leading the ED. But, no, I don’t like him.
Dr. Novak has managed to piss off everyone collectively, and to be honest; Wendy would have been the much better replacement for the ED.
I can only applaud Mags for stepping in and putting him in his place because she is right. The others are not a problem; he is. He projects that chip on his shoulder to anything that breathes, and he is only focused on being the best and having the last word.
When Mags called him out, she not only called him out for herself, but she called out his way of “having fun” as terrible leadership because it is. Projecting and deflecting are not leadership. Being accountable for yourself and working on things moving forward is leadership.
We’ll see if Novak straightens out after Mags’ brilliant speech.
BASH AND FAMILY
Bash will do anything and everything for his family. We see him engaged and present when he goes to Amira’s dance recital. He enjoys being there for her and embracing her passions. He also sees Rania, where many of his ghosts come to light.
Bash is stuck in the past, where he was taken from his family and imprisoned. His PTSD has been ever-present and forced him to relive the past in the cruellest ways. Yet, his family and friends are the only people anchoring him to the present. They are his lifeline.
So much so that when Khalid gets released, Bash starts to feel the clouds lift. He starts to feel like his life is falling into place, and the people he loves are safe. When the people he loves are safe and happy, everything else feels fine. Bash will always put others above himself.
BASH AND MAGS
IT HAPPENED. I THINK.
Bash and Mags have been growing closer since the angst-filled first half of the season. While they’ve handled many complicated situations and continued to work together, primarily undeterred, they’ve had some great moments moving forward.
Bash and Mags have a way of supporting each other that feels genuine and honest. They work together, they can read each other, and they protect each other. Mags encourages Bash when he feels lost by simply telling him to be himself. Bash continuously checks in on Mags and supports her ambitions.
So, their moment in the season finale felt deserved. Whether or not they get together, we know they had a moment. A moment of understanding. A (hopefully) moment of joy.
YORK MEMORIAL TEAM
The York Memorial team has had a whirlwind season that took everyone on a rollercoaster ride. But, with old relationships tested and new relationships flourishing, it’s safe to say our core four will always be there for each other.
While we’ve seen Bash and Theo’s friendship tested throughout the season, Mags and June have managed to grow closer. Bash and Theo have come out of arguments and personal traumas to always be there for each other. In addition, they’ve managed to amend any grievances they’ve had with each other and come out better.
June and Mags have become closer in a way that I never expected. They rely on each other and have learned their emotional languages enough to know what the other person needs. They have helped each other push and pursue their new endeavours and ambitions. They are opposite and precisely what the other needs as a friend.
The core four have an honest relationship that pushes the others to better themselves. That’s all you could ask for in a team. So let’s hope they continue as the team they need to be.
Transplant has been renewed for a third season and will return to NBC soon. In the meantime, you can stream all of Seasons 1 and 2 on NBC now.
